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Luke 18:1-14

The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge

18Then Jesus* told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.
2He said, In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people.
3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, Grant me justice against my opponent.
4For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone,
5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.*6And the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says.
7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?
8I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-Collector

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
10Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector.
11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector.
12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.
13But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner!
14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.